Hydroxyl functionalized PVDF–TiO₂ ultrafiltration membrane and its antifouling properties

Abstract

In this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was hydroxylized via the Fenton reaction and was used as a polymer matrix for mixed‐matrix membrane synthesis. The chemical properties of hydroxylized PVDF (PVDF–OH) polymer and pristine PVDF polymer were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Treatment of PVDF polymer with Fenton reagent led to the emergence of the OH functionality. The field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analysis clearly indicated the improvement of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) distribution on the PVDF–OH/TiO2 mixed‐matrix membrane (MMM) surface. The antifouling properties of the neat PVDF membrane, PVDF/TiO2 MMM and PVDF–OH/TiO2 MMM were investigated. The MMM with the embedded P25 TiO2 was found to show better antifouling ability, with a considerably higher irreversible flux recovery ratio after 6 h of UV irradiation. By hydroxylizing the PVDF matrix, the TiO2 NP dispersion was improved. The PVDF–OH/TiO2 MMM combined both the superior antifouling and UV‐cleaning properties. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41844.

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